Twelve people, including four from Sussex, today appeared before magistrates charged with conspiring to defraud the Department for Education and Skills.
The nine men and three women were accused of fraudulently obtaining thousands of pounds from the Government by asking students to enrol on a learning programme when no training actually took place.
They spoke only to confirm their names as the cases against them were adjourned by a Northampton magistrate.
The dozen were arrested as part of a National Crime Squad investigation into the activities of animal rights activists.
It is alleged they used the Individual Learning Account programme, set up to encourage people to study outside the standard educational system, to fraudulently gain property and information on those involved in legitimate research to further support animal rights activity.
All 12 were today granted unconditional bail by magistrate Bob Taylor to reappear before Northampton Crown Court on Monday for a preliminary hearing.
Two people charged with two counts of conspiracy to obtain property by deception included Gamal Eboe, 32, of Queen's Mansions, Eastbourne.
His wife, Louise Caroline Eboe, 29, of the same address, was among 10 people charged with one count of conspiracy to obtain property by deception.
Others charged with the same offence included Kate Fowler, 30, of Pyecombe Street, Pyecombe, near Henfield, and John Edward Hughes, 34, of Kenilworth Road, St Leonards.
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